We won't let raid ordeal stop us, says heroic shopkeeper

Ranvir Bassi today spoke out for the first time about the ordeal she suffered at her shop in Stafford.

With the weapon pointed at her face and her seven-year-old daughter clinging to her skirt, Mrs Bassi refused to hand over money, pushed the gun away and chased the masked gunman to the door of her shop in Rickerscote Road.

She was praised by a judge as a 17-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, admitted attempted robbery, possessing a firearm with intent to commit robbery and possessing a prohibited weapon at Stafford Crown Court.

Mrs Bassi said she 'hoped it would all be over soon' once he is sentenced, after the case adjourned for pre-sentence reports to be prepared.

The 35-year-old was shutting the shop 10 minutes early to visit her son Gurdip, aged eight, who was in hospital suffering from severe eczema, when the man stormed in.

Mrs Bassi was in the stock room of the Bassi & Son store at around 8.20pm with her daughter when they heard shouting – and within seconds they were confronted by the hooded gunman.

But Mrs Bassi refused to be intimidated and screamed: "Get out of my shop." She pushed him backwards towards the door, and as he stumbled out onto the street she locked up and called the police.

She added: "We are OK but we just want it all to be over now. You start to move on and then he's back in court and it comes back.

"My daughter is OK but she is constantly looking around and can get a bit worried when people come in the shop. It does change you because I am not quite as open to the customers as I used to be. But we are carrying on and won't let it stop us."

Recorder Mr Michael Elsom praised her actions during the hearing at Stafford Crown Court.

He said: "Mrs Bassi displayed quite extraordinary bravery in taking hold of the weapon."

Police found the defendant's trainers near Mrs Bassi's shop and the shotgun discarded among some old bike frames nearby, the court heard.

Prosecutor Mr Phillip Beardwell said the gun's stock had been crudely cut down and the barrel shortened.

Staffordshire Police's armourer reported it was an old weapon in a poor state, which could have been repaired and put in to working condition by someone who knew what they were doing.

It was loaded with a live 12-bore round.

The court heard Mrs Bassi and her daughter would not have known whether the gun was capable of being fired or not.

Defending, Mr Michael Anning told the court the youth was not a 'determined and experienced criminal' and that the scene was 'over in a short period of time'.